Chitwood Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

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Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Origin, Meaning, Family History and Chitwood Coat of Arms and Family Crest

Chitwood Origin:

England, Ireland

Origins of Chitwood:

The surname of Chitwood is said to be a locational surname hailing from the country of England. Since the surname of Chitwood is said to be locational, this means that it was often taken by the Lord or owner of the land from which the name derives. Others who may have taken a locational surname are people who have migrated out of the area to seek out work. The easiest way to identify someone who was a stranger at that time was by the name of their birthplace. The location from which those who bore the surname of Chitwood are said to have hailed is located in the county of Buckinghamshire. The word itself is said to hail from the Celtic word of “wood” which can be translated to mean “wood.” Another possible origin of the surname of Chitwood is that it is a topographical surname. A topographical surname is used to describe someone who lived on or near a residential landmark. This landmark could be either man made or natural, and would have been easily identifiable in the area from which it hailed, thus making the people who lived near it easily distinguished. Those who bore the surname of Chitwood are said to have lived in an area in or around a wooded area. The final possible origin of the surname of Chitwood is that it was a nickname for someone who was crazy or crazed. It is a common element of surnames throughout Europe that many of them originally derived from nicknames, as it was a very common practice in medieval times. In the beginning, nicknames were applied to people who had distinguishing characteristics, such as moral or mental peculiarities, a similar appearance to a bird or animal, a similar disposition to a bird or animal, occupation of an individual, their habits, or their manner of dress.

Variations:

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Chitwood can be traced to the country of England. One person by the name of Robert de Thain, who held the area of Chetwode under one Bishop Baieux was said to be the first recorded person to bear the name of Chitwood, as Thain later adopted the name himself. It is said that the Chitwode family resided in this area for over 26 generations. Those who bore the surname of Chitwood can be found in large concentrations in the areas of Lancashire and Yorkshire, as well as the areas in and around the city of London.

Scotland:

Those who bore the surname of Chitwood in Scotland can be found in large populations in the areas of Midlothian and Lanarkshire.

United States of America:

Within the United States of America, there are many people who bear the surname of Chitwood. Among the first to bear this name was one William Chitwood, who arrived in the state of Virginia in the year of 1636, making him the first recorded Chitwood in America. Those who are known to bear the surname of Chitwood within the United States of America, which at that time was known as the New World or the Colonies, are found within the state of New York.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Chitwood: United States 7,520; Canada 25; Panama 1; Japan 1; Germany 1; France 1; Finland 1; England 1; Austria 1

Notable People:

Joie Chitwood III, who served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway who was also from America.

William Hewilitt “Bill” Chitwood (born in 1891) who was a player of the fiddle from Resaca, Georgia.

Christina Chitwood (born in 1990) who was an ice dancer from America.

George Rice “Joie” (1912-1988) who was a racecar driver who helped found the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show, and who was a daredevil from America.

Joseph Howard Chitwood (born in 1877) who served as a Member of the Virginia State House of Delegates from the year of 1907 to the year of 1908, and who served as the Attorney for the Western District of Virginia from the year of 1920 the year of 1921, and then again from the year of 1934 to the year of 1940, and who was a Democratic politician from America.

H. H, Chitwood, who served as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention from the state of Tennessee in the year of 1932 and who was a Republican politician from America.

Chitwood Coat of Arms Meaning

The two main devices (symbols) in the Chitwood blazon are the lion and crow. The two main tinctures (colors) are sable and argent.

Sable, the deep black so often found in Heraldry is believed to named from an animal of the marten family know in the middle ages as a Sabellinœ and noted for its very black fur 1A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1894, Entry:Sable. In engravings, when colors cannot be shown it is represented as closely spaced horizontal and vertical lines, and appropriately is thus the darkest form of hatching, as this method is known 2Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 26. Although it may seem a sombre tone, and does indeed sometimes denote grief, it is more commonly said to represent Constancy 3The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P35.

Argent is the heraldic metal Silver and is usually shown as very pure white. It is also known more poetically as pearl, moon (or luna) 4Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P53. In a sketch or drawing it is represented by plain, unmarked paper 5A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1847, P11.

The art of heraldry would be significantly poorer if we were without the lion in all its forms. Most general works on Heraldry devote at least one chapter solely to this magnificent creature and its multifarious depictions 6A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P1727Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 638Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P140. Some of the earliest known examples of heraldry, dating right back to the knighting of Geoffrey of Anjou in 1127, where he is shown with six such beasts upon his shield 9A Treatise on Heraldry, J. Woodward, W & A.K Johnston, Edinburgh & London, 1896, P45 .The great authority on heraldic symbology, Wade, points out the high place that the lion holds in heraldry, “as the emblem of deathless courage”10The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P60, a sentiment echoed equally today.

Birds of great variety occur throughout heraldry, at least in name 11A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P233. In truth, despite the proliferation of species, the actual depictions can sometimes be hard to distinguish! The crow, raven, rook and many older names are commonly to be found on a coat of arms but all tend to share the same appearance 12A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1847, P164. Wade discusses the symbolism of the crow, disputing Sloane-Evans suggestion as an emblem of “long life” and preferring “a settled habitation and a quiet life” instead. 13The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P81